Surviving OS2U Kingfishers ...

[Mark Allen M]

If I recall there's about 5 or 6 scattered about in various different stages of condition. One or two being restored to flight I've heard. At least one on a battleship museum if I recall as well.

A very neat airplane IMHO. Below OS2U Kingfisher Scout Planes Aboard AV-5 USS Albemarle 1942

[Mark Allen M]

Below Chance-Vought OS2U Kingfisher Gunnery Runs on a Target Sleeve 1942

[Mark Allen M]

USN Chance-Vought OS2U Kingfisher in the South Pacific 1943

[thunderbolt47d]

I know of one on the USS North Carolina and another at the USS Alabama, one in Chile, one in Cuba, NASM and NMNA each have one and one that is owned by Jerry Yagin and being restored in Australia or NZ. I also believe one may be in Uruguay.

[sandiego89]

Looking forward to the Yagen restoration as it is close to me. Sources indicate it will be in the wheeled configuration, which is uglier, but makes sense to operate out the grass strip in Virginia Beach. Really appreciate Yagen bringing these obscure types back to flight.

Guess it has been many decades since one flew? Cuba or Mexico perhaps last flight @1959?

[MKD1966]

I know it wouldn't be authentic - but it would be cool if one could be restored to flight using the retract gear system in the pontoon from a Grumman Duck or at least something like that so you had a land or water option...

[wiley2770]

Mark, I noticed in the first set of photos, on the carrier, that the planes lack squadron or other identification. I wondered if it was because they hadn’t been assigned to any squadrons, but then the jungle photo appears to be similar in that I don’t see any identification. Am I overthinking this, or is there an explanation?

Thanks,

[ErrolC]

Current state of project at Pioneer Aero, Ardmore.
Not being actively worked on at the mo - P-39 and a P-40 ahead in the queue.


Kingfisher project at Pioneer Aero by Errol Cavit, on Flickr

[sandiego89]

USN Chance-Vought OS2U Kingfisher in the South Pacific 1943

Geez lots of problems there.

- No safety railing around the "ladder"
- "Chief" hasn't washed his clothes in weeks.
- no tech manual in sight
- non-standard material for wing jacking
- Unauthorized civilians, including a juvenile, in the work area
- Sloppy uniform discipline - a real mish mash of uniforms- "uniforms" are supposed to be just that.

[Malo83]

Back in the 70's this was the norm when forward deployed to Diego Garcia or on a WestPac, recip mechs were always dirty and oil stained

[sandiego89]

Thanks for the photo Errol. That's quite a storage cradle they have built for it. Fuselage looks good, just a few boxes of stuff to sort out!

[steve dickey]

Mark, I noticed in the first set of photos, on the carrier, that the planes lack squadron or other identification. I wondered if it was because they hadn’t been assigned to any squadrons, but then the jungle photo appears to be similar in that I don’t see any identification. Am I overthinking this, or is there an explanation?

Thanks,

In the first post; AV-5 USS Albemarle- sea plane tender
My guess they where on delivery and didn't get any markings till they got in a squadron. The jungle photo it would appear they are reassembling/rebuilding?,
and the big crate was for the wing, notice the big shipping gust lock on the rudder!!

[Mark Allen M]

I kind of like both versions.

[Mark Allen M]

The only 'civilian' kingfisher that I'm aware of belonged to Remy De Haenen.

A bit of this bio in the link below:
http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/ ... caribbean/

[Matt Gunsch]

Kermit Weeks has a Kingfisher with floats, that is being restored along side Jerry's.